17 Times Celebrities (Adorably) Thank Their Teachers

Imagine teaching an oscar nominee or the second man to walk on the moon!
- byEmily Featherstone

04 Oct
2016

Happy National Teacher's Day! Take a look at the way celebrities have thanked the teachers who inspired them! Job well done!

Steve Martin

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“…teaching is, after all, a form of show business.”

Alyson Hannigan

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“She would let us eat lunch in her room, mainly so we didn't get beat up.”

Jon Hamm

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“A great teacher is a key to success. To each and every one of my teachers, thank you.”

Bill Gates

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“There was a math teacher, Fred Wright, who asked me to push a little bit harder. And Ann Stephens taught English and also drama—and I got to be the star of the play. There's no way there'd be a Microsoft without them doing what they did.”

Zoe Saldana

On her teacher Dilia Mieses: “taught me the importance of perseverance and discipline one must have in order to obtain results that will bring you happiness and success.”

Colin Firth

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“The teaching and encouragement I received at college was fantastic.” Firth also brought drama teacher Penny Edwards with him to receive an award at House of Parliament.

Minnie Driver

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"I was fortunate to have a really good education and had an outstandingly good music teacher who encouraged me to explore my love of music as a way to help unscramble my block with maths. I believe the arts give children the tools for creative thinking that serve children in every aspect of scholastic development."

Oprah Winfrey

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“I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Duncan.”

Eva Mendes

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Eva speaks of Miss Brusowski “She was just always telling me how special I was and encouraging me and you know, just unbelievable."

james McAvoy

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"A great teacher changed my life. I learned that I didn’t need to be like everybody else. Anne-Marie Dempsey, Craig Smith—thank you."

Patrick Stewart

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Patrick speaks of English teacher Cecil Dormand: “…was the one that put a copy of Shakespeare in my hand [and] said, ‘Now get up on your feet and perform."

Hilary Swank

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“Mr. Sellereit gave me my first acting job in my school production of The Jungle Book!”

Kerry Washington

“My mom is a retired professor of education, but she was a public school teacher in New York City for decades, transforming the lives of thousands of kids in New York City. Then she became a professor of education in New York and Lehman College and she’s now retired, but sort of consulting. So I always feel like I had the benefit of one of the best minds in education at home on call 24/7.”

Nicholas Sparks

“They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even when you don't know it.”

“Before I started (college), that's the advice my dad gave me. He said to pick classes based on the teacher whenever you can, not the subject...his point was that good teachers are priceless. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even when you don't know it.”